Device for remote control



y 5, 1942- I G. K. TOLNAI 2,282,010

DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL Fil ed March 4, 1940 III Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR. REMOTE CONTROL company of Sweden Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,221 In Sweden March 1, 1939 4 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for remote control, such as transmission or controlling of angular or rotary movements, and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved device for remote control of angular positions of an indicator, pointer, crank or the like or a gun or for correcting undesired differences of relative rotary movements of members such as rotary parts of machines.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically an embodiment of the device for the control or transmission of movements;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of part of the device;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating angular displacement of part of the device; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal side view of the same part of the device.

Referring to the drawing, a transmitter is provided with a rotary journalled shaft l the rotary movements of which are to be transmitted to a receiver. The shaft I can be rotated or turned by means of a crank 3. The transmitter has an electric voltage distributor or regulator 2, rigidly mounted on the shaft I and provided with a plurality of slip rings 4 which are insulated from each other. The rings 4 are electrically connected each to a distributor segment 5, which segments are insulated from each other and mounted on a flange 6 of the distributor 2. A contact brush 1 engages each slip ring 4. One of said brushes is earthed and the other brushes are connected to sources of electric currents of different voltages. Thus the brushes carry currents of 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 volts, in which case the voltage in the contact segments are in succession volt, 4 volts, 8 volts, 12 volts and 16 volts, respectively. The segment 60 is non-conducting. Coaxially with the distributor 2 is rotatably mounted a brush holder 8 which is driven by a synchronous motor 9. The brush holder 8 is provided with two slip rings l2 which are electrically insulated from each other and electrically connected each to one of two oppositely disposed contact brushes Ill. During the rotary movement of the brush holder 8 the brushes it move in a circular path over the contact segments of the distributor 2 and engage them, so that they are successively caused to establish electric connection with segments 5 of stepwise increasing or decreasing voltages unless the voltage distributor 2 has exactly the same rotary velocity as the brush holder 8. The brushes l9 are by means of their respective slip rings i2 electrically connected each to one of two contact brushes II that form terminals of electric conductors.

The receiver with its voltage distributor, brush holder, brushes etc. is in the present embodiment of the invention exactly similar to the transmitter. Thus, the receiver has a voltage distributor or regulator 13 that operates with corresponding voltages, such as 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 volts, supplied through contact brushes 1. To the distributor I3 is connected the member (not shown) the movement or position of which is to be controlled. Corresponding brushes H and I5 of the transmitter and receiver, respectively, may for that purpose be connected to one and the same source of current. Exactly corresponding voltages are, however, not necessary, but they may differ slightly. A difference of 0.2 volt may be permissible. The brush holder M of the receiver coacts with brushes l5 and is driven by the synchronous motor It. The brushes l0 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The brush s of the transmitter is connected by an electric conductor to.the brush 10111. of the receiver, and the other brush 10s" is connected by another electric conductor to the other brush 10m of the receiver. The motors 9 and I6 are driven synchronously and connected to a joint electric circuit which is connected to a transformer 6|.

The voltage distributor I3 is rotatably connected by means of a gear I1, Hi to a driving shaft l9, which is connected by means of a reversing gear 20 to a shaft 2| on which is rigidly mounted a ratchet Wheel 22. The ratchet wheel 22 is connected by means of an overrunning clutch 25 to the shaft 24 of a motor 23. The reversing gear 20 is controlled by a lever 21 which is pivoted on a pin 26 and movable between two electromagnets 28 and 29. The electromagnets 28 and 29 are connected to a source of current 36, and their circuits can be alternately closed and broken by an armature 3| arranged be tween two polarized magnets 32 and 33 the coils of which are connected to the conductors that interconnect the brush holders 8 and M.

The ratchet wheel 22 coacts with a spring loaded pawl 35 that is controlled by an electromagnet 34. The coil of the electromagnet 34 is connected to a source of current 36, and its circuit is connected to electric control members such as relays 31 and 38 which are connected each to one of both the conductors that interconnect the brushes lOs', 10m and 10s, 10m", respectively.

If the voltage distributors 2 and E3 of the transmitter and receiver, respectively, occupy the positions of equilibrium shown in Fig. 2 none of both the conductors that interconnect the brushes II and I5 carries any current as no difference of potential exists between the brushes connected to one and the same conductor. They have the same voltage, such as and 16 volts,

respectively. Now, if the shaft l and thereby the voltage distributor 2 is turned from the position of equilibrium the terminal voltages of the brushes II and IE will be different at the transmitter and receiver, as they engage contact segments of different voltages. Then the conductors carry current through the relays 31 and 38 which close the circuit through the electromagnet 34, so that the latter retracts the pawl 35 which then releases the ratchet Wheel 22. Then the sliding in the clutch ceases, i. .e. the motor 23 starts driving the shaft 2|, which takes place rapidly and at a considerable turning moment. As long as the brushes H] of the transmitter and receiver engage contact segments of different voltages the pawl is maintained retracted, and the shaft I 9 rotates the distributor l3 of the receiver. As shown in Fig. 2, the brushes I0 and the contact segments 5 are disposed in such manner that only one of a pair of brushes H] can touch a voltage carrying segment. If, for-instance, the distributor 2 of the transmitter has been displaced in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) slightly (less than the width of a segment 5) into the dash and dot position a difierence of voltage is present at both the brushes H and I 5, connected to one and the same conductor merely during the intervals at which both the brushes I 0s and His" move from A (in full lines) to B (in dash and dot lines). During the intermediate intervals the conductors between the brushes and 1-5 carry no current and the magnet 34 releases the pawl 35 which is instantaneously moved by a spring into locking position to arrest the wheel 22 and thereby also the shaft [9. Thus the shaft 19 and the voltage distributor move with very short and rapid steps until the distributor I3 by rotation in a clockwise direction has obtained the position shown in Fig. 3 in dash and dot lines, and thereby synchronism has been obtained. The locking means is 2.0- 4

commodated in such manner that the ratchet wheel 22 performs at each current impulse a very rapid rotary displacement through one pitch of teeth. This minimum of movement represents the accuracy of the device.

If the shaft I of the transmitter together with the distributor 2 have been displaced angularly in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 the distributor E3 of the receiver has obviously to be turned rearwards. Then the shaft has obviously to rotate in a direction opposite to that required to overtake a lead. But the shaft 24 has always one and the same rotary direction. Therefore the gear has to reverse the rotary direction of the shaft f9 in dependence of the direction of the relative angular displacement of transmitter and receiver.

This can be efiected by means of the polarized magnets 32 and 33 and suitable relative arrange ment of the conducting and non-conducting con tact segments of the voltage distributors. If, for instance, the distributor 2 has been displaced angularly relative to the distributor 13 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) through one step, corresponding to the circumferential width of [3 of the receiver one segment 5, the conductor connecting the brushes Ids and Him carries a current, while the conductor connecting the brushes Its and Him is dead. If the relative angular displacement is directed reversedly the conductor connecting the brushes its and Him carries a current, While the conductor connecting the brushes His and Him" is dead. Thus, the armature 3! is attracted by the magnet 32 or the magnet 33 in dependence of the direction of the relative angular displacement, and, consequently, the coil of either the magnet 28 or the magnet 29 will be energized in dependence of the said direction of displacement. Thus the reversing gear 20, i. e. the rotary direction of the shaft l9, will be controlled in dependence of the direction of the relative angular displacement of transmitter and receiver. This is effected in such manner that the shaft l9 imparts to the distributor l3 a forward or rearward rotary movement, if the shaft I, i. e. the crank 3, has been turned for- .ward or rearward, respectively, relative to the distributor I3.

Inthe embodiment now described the device has been assumed to transmit variations of movement from an angularly adjustable member (e. g. a crank or pointer) to another member (e. g. a pointer), but the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The distributors of the transmitter and receiver may, for instance, be adapted to rapidly correct undesired phase displacements. As long as both the voltage distributors revolve at exactly the same speed, the magnet 34 receives no electric impulses, but as soon as a phase displacement occurs, the shaft l9 will start rotary movement and correct the error as described. It is not necessary, however, that the brush holders 3 and I4 revolve. They may be immovable, if the distributors rotate, so that a relative movement of the contact segments 5 and brushes I'll is obtained;

I claim:

1. A device for transmission of angular or rotary movements, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, an electric conduit for interconnecting said transmitter and said receiver, said transmitter and said receiver each having a voltage distributor comprising a series of contact members, a series of sources of electric current of stepwise increasing voltages each connected to one of said contact members to supply said contact members with electric current of successively and stepwise increasing voltages, said series of contact members consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed segments which are isolated from one another and form a curved contact bridge, a nonconducting field between the ends of said curved bridge, said series of contact members in said transmitter and in said receiver being arranged in similar sequences with respect to their voltages and having substantially corresponding voltages respectively, said transmitter and said receiver each having a collecting contact member forming terminals of said conduit and being adapted to electrically interconnect said sources of electric current and said electric conduit, means for relatively rotating the distributorand collecting member of said transmitter and said receiver, mechanical means for driving the receiver, and electro-magnetic means connected to said conduit to control said driving means.

2. A device for transmission of angular or rotary movements, comprising a transmitter, a

receiver, an electric conduit for interconnecting said transmitter and receiver, said transmitter and said receiver each having a voltage distributor comprising a series of contact members, a series of sources of electric current of stepwise increasing voltages each connected to one of said contact members to supply said contact members with electric current of successively and stepwise increasing voltages, said series of contact members consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed segments which are isolated from one another and form a curved contact bridge, a non-conducting field between the ends of said curved bridge, said series of contact members in said transmitter and in said receiver being arranged in similar sequences with respect to their voltages and having substantially corresponding voltages respectively, said transmitter and said receiver each having a collecting contact member forming terminals of said conduit and being adapted to electrically interconnect said sources of electric current and said electric conduit, and means for relatively rotating the distributor and collecting member of said transmitter and said receiver, mechanical means for driving the receiver, and electro-magnetic means connected to said conduit to control said driving means, said electromagnetic means comprising polarized electromagnets adapted to reverse the rotary direction of said receiver.

3. A device for transmission of angular or rotary movements, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, two electric conduits for interconnecting said transmitter and receiver, said transmitter and said receiver each having a voltage distributor comprising a series of contact members, a series of sources of electric current of stepwise increasing voltages each connected to one of said contact members to supply said contact members with electric current of successively and stepwise increasing voltages, said series of contact members consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed segments which are isolated from one another and form a substantially semi-circular contact bridge, another semi-circular bridge interconnecting the ends of said contact bridge and having a nonconducting bridge which is juxtaposed to the contact member of the highest voltage and a conducting segment juxtaposed to the contact member of the lowest voltage, said series of contact members in said transmitter and in said receiver being arranged in similar sequences with respect to their voltages and having substantially corresponding voltages respectively, said transmitter and said receiver each having two collecting contact members forming terminals of said conduits, means for relatively rotating said distributors and collecting members of said transmitter and said receiver to alternatively establish through said conduit-s electrical connection between said sources of electric current and said contact members, and electromagnetic means connected to said conduits to control the rotation of the distributor of the receiver.

4. A device for transmission of angular or rotary movements, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, an electric conduit for interconnecting said transmitter and receiver, said transmitter and said receiver each having a voltage distributor comprising a series of contact members, means for rotating the distributor of the transmitter, means for rotating the distributor of the receiver, a series of sources of electric current of stepwise increasing voltages connected each to one of said contact members to supply said contact members with electric current of successively and stepwise increasing voltages, said series of said contact members in said transmitter and in said receiver being arranged in similar sequences with respect to their voltages and having substantially corresponding voltages respectively, said transmitter and said receiver each having a collecting contact member each forming a terminal of said electric conduit and being adapted to electrically interconnect said sources of electric current and said electric conduit, means for driving said collecting contact members to rotate synchronously, and electromagnetic means connected to said conduit to control the driving means of the receiver distributor.

GABOR KORNEL TOLNAI. 

